Immunity, outside the immune system
Seth Barribeau
LIFE709
sethb@liv.ac.uk
Parasites/pathogens are everywhere
What is a parasite?
But, what is a parasite?
Takes resources at its host expense
Causes damage
But, what is a parasite?
Immune manipulation and evasion
Nausea, vomiting
Constipation
Tenderness
Indigestion & Heartburn
Depression
Anxiety
Fatigue
Bloating
Weight gain
Scarring
Insomnia
Frequent urination
Diabetes
But, what is a parasite?
But, what is a parasite?
What is the immune system?
What is the immune system?
Schmid-Hempel (2011)
What is the immune system?
Schmid-Hempel (2011)
Immune systems evolve fast
At least, parts of them
Barribeau et al. (2015)
Is that all there is to immunity?
Nope
Doublet et al. (2017)
Schmid-Hempel (2011)
Questions
If involved in immunity, are these ‘non-immune’ defenses also coevolving with parasites?
How can we tell if they’re adaptive?
Is there variation in these traits and if so, how is it maintained?
Extended immune systems evolve fast
At least, parts of them